Mikelson Yachts 72-78 Sportfisher

Built by Knight & Carver in San Diego, the Mikelson 78 (originally produced in 1994–95 as a 72-footer; the 78 has a longer cockpit) is a long-range sportfisher with a rakish profile and motor yacht–style accommodations. She’s built on a fully cored hull with a very wide beam, and her sleek appearance makes her a clear standout among today’s crop of mostly conservative production 65-foot-plus sportfishermen. While Mikelson promotes its ability to custom-design each 78 to an owner’s requirements, the standard floorplan has the galley forward and elevated from the salon. This allows for the placement of an absolutely huge full beam master stateroom beneath the galley floor. Each of the other three staterooms has a double bed and all four heads have stall showers. An observation deck (with the standup engine room below) overlooks the spacious cockpit, and the flybridge—which may be enclosed—is the largest of any boat in her class and can even be ordered with a day head. Twin 1,100hp 12-cylinder MTUs cruise at 20 knots and deliver a top speed of 24–25 knots. With nearly 4,000 gallons of fuel and an easily driven hull, the 78 Sportfish has a range of some 1,400 miles.